Former Arsenal player Ray Parlour has claimed that the club’s Sporting Director Edu wants to get rid of some high earners as they are not in the plans for the new season.
The North London club have snapped up three players so far this summer, spending around £208 million on them.
Arsenal are not done in the transfer market and have been linked with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya.
They also want a right winger and midfielder, but Parlour believes they want to sell some unwanted players first before deciding to bring in further additions.
“I speak to Edu and he cannot give too much away because it is very confidential what they’re trying to do,” he told the Mirror.
“But I know for a fact he wants to get a few players out, three or four players who are probably not going to feature.
“They are all on good contracts so it is sometimes difficult to do that, but I am sure he is working very hard on doing that.
“If the players can agree to leave and go to other clubs then maybe there is room for another player coming in, but I do not know who – I am sure he’s been keeping tabs on everyone.
“He is a good lad, Edu, and I think the most important thing now is to get three or four players out of the club and probably release a bit of money that way.”
Folarin Balogun, Auston Trusty, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nicolas Pepe, Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares are all expected to leave Arsenal this summer, while the futures of Matt Turner, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding at the club are also uncertain.
Highly-rated youth player Charlie Patino is expected to leave, and the Gunners will have their transfer kitty hugely boosted if they can get up to six players sold.
Inter Milan want Balogun, Trusty is on his way to Sheffield United, Burnley are keen on Lokonga, Tavares has suitors across Europe and Turner is on the radar of Nottingham Forest.
While they have made some solid signings so far, Arsenal need more squad depth if they are to challenge Manchester City next term and impress in the Champions League, and the next few days leading to the end of the transfer window are crucial.
